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What’s in those ComEd emails?

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Illinois

* Press release last week…

State Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch released the following statement Wednesday regarding the Special Investigating Committee:

“Today, the Special Investigating Committee received more than 100 documents from Commonwealth Edison which had been requested by both Democrats and Republicans – documents which underlie the deferred prosecution agreement and were previously obtained by federal investigators. In the interest of transparency, I have requested all documents be posted on the committee’s page on ilga.gov. It’s clear that a full, honest reading of these documents shows that associates of ComEd assisted with job recommendations for people from both parties, both chambers, and multiple branches of government.

“With this information, the committee plans to resume meeting in-person on Monday, December 14, giving members time to take necessary health and safety precautions following the Thanksgiving holiday and return prepared to safely continue the work of the committee.”

The documents are here. What’s abundantly clear is that the assistance to the GOP and to the Senate paled in comparison to what’s in there about the House Speaker.

Also, Rep. Welch tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend, so the hearing may be in some doubt. We’ll see. More importantly, though, I’d like to extend my own best wishes for a quick and total recovery.

* Center Square…

“What sticks out is the number of times quote ‘our friend’ is mentioned having asked for something, responded somehow,” said state Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon. “So that the Speaker’s letter saying he couldn’t answer questions about conversations he wasn’t a part of, these documents show he was part of quite a few conversations.”

“Our friend” is widely believed to be Madigan.

* WBEZ…

In a June 2014 exchange, McClain wrote Marquez with an opaque question that again appeared to deal with property tax issues involving ComEd.

“Our Friend called,” McClain said.

He then said a former congressman, whose name was redacted by ComEd in the newly-released records, “was concerned about representing us in his usual property tax matters” and asked Marquez to inquire about the issue.

Marquez agreed and asked what motivated Madigan’s unspecified concern.

“Our Friend did not know but presumed someone was trying to hustle one of ‘his’ accounts,” McClain responded.

The full exchange as reflected in the email poses more questions than it answers. It’s not clear who the unidentified ex-congressman is or what precisely McClain was referring to when he apparently quoted Madigan speculating someone – possibly the ex-congressman – was “trying to hustle one of ‘his’ accounts.’”

But what is clear is that, according to McClain, Madigan had an interest in ComEd’s property tax obligations, which conceivably dovetails off the specialty of the speaker’s law firm.

* Tribune…

The email trail buttresses federal allegations that ex-lobbyist Michael McClain pushed on Madigan’s behalf to have former McPier CEO Juan Ochoa put on ComEd’s board and highlights how 13th Ward loyalist Ed Moody, now the Cook County recorder of deeds, was shifted from one secretive contract with a lobbyist to another. […]

Ed Moody’s name came up in a June 5, 2013, email from McClain to Pramaggiore that asked if she would consider “moving Ed off my contract and onto Jay Dougherty’s or someone else’s? I know Hook and you have talked about it. You and I have casually talked about it but I wanted session to be over first.”

McClain concluded with a one-word reasoning for the request: “Optics.” […]

On Oct. 18, 2014, for example, McClain forwarded Marquez an email with the subject line “Mike, Attached are 3 resumes for a meter reading position/or appropriate with ComEd,” though the original sender is unclear.

Six days later, on Oct. 24, 2014, McClain wrote in the same email thread, “Fidel, this is what our Friend was talking about with you.”

* Sun-Times…

McClain’s emails also provide new information about a lobbying contract former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo and his sons landed with ComEd as subcontractors to the law firm of Victor Reyes, whose business dealings with the utility are at issue in the indictment.

Acevedo apparently created problems for ComEd, according to an email McClain sent to Marquez on Jan. 11, 2017.

“His two boys are nice but need a firm monitor. They are lazy,” McClain wrote. “He has to show up at the meetings on time. Himself. Not his boys representing him. . . Watch the booze.”

A grand jury previously subpoenaed state lobbying reports filed by the Acevedos and their firm, Apex Strategy LLC.

Apex was reportedly paid $5,000 a month, first in a contract with Reyes’s firm and then to Shaw Decremer, a lobbyist who once worked for Madigan.

Acevedo hung up on a reporter, saying, “I have no idea what you’re talking about, and I have no comment.” Reyes could not be reached for co

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 9:19 am

Comments

“Our Friend”

A Friend To All Is A Friend To None

Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 9:26 am
I was doubtful about this committee’s effectiveness from the beginning…but I’ve gotta say, these released emails might be worth it.

Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 9:50 am
NIU Grad –

I think its been clear from the beginning that the goal of this committee was never to remove Madigan, despite some commenters insistence to the contrary. The goal was always to inflict political damage. And on that measure, its hard to argue that this committee has been anything less than a disaster for the Speaker.

Not only do you have these emails, the investigation helped keep the ComEd story in the news throughout the late summer and fall election season, right up until we got a new round of indictments.

Additionally, I really don’t think Welch could have handled this committee worse.

Comment by SpiDem Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 10:06 am
So a private company gets the rights to a monopoly which is regulated by state legislators who use their regulatory power to extract favors, while the monopoly extracts profits. The favors pay for more profits and the profits pay for more favors.

Comment by State Sen. Clay Davis Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 10:11 am
===The goal was always to inflict political damage. And on that measure, its hard to argue that this committee has been anything less than a disaster for the Speaker.===

Meh. The a “+1″ state House seat for Republicans, while also a “-1″ state Senate seat for Republicans, no congressional flips, dumping Skillicorn, Cabello, and committee member Wehrli, the damage is that the Speaker isn’t any closer to 60 than after the election.

The goal of the exercise was to save the likes of Wehrli, and that failed.

This is a family fight now more than politically damaging anything the Dems have at play, as of now. If the votes aren’t there in January, it’s all moot.

The campaigns and elections are over, now its the finalizing the numbers, Madigan is done, either now or in January.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 10:17 am
Alone…

My best to Rep. Welch for a speedy, easy, and complete recovery.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 10:19 am
Well now that Madigan seems to be too hot to handle, I’m gonna call Durkin. He seems to be asking ComEd for his own hires. I hope he isn’t asked to step down himself.

Comment by PublicServant Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 10:21 am
Maybe this was covered….but is it criminal to work ghost jobs in the private sector…as in Com Ed? Can these paid Consultants getting paid by ComEd and Doherty get indicted?

Comment by Druid Eye Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 10:22 am
Knowing how his “friend” appreciates silence, it is surprising how brazen McClain was in these emails. Should be interesting if this ever gets to court.

Comment by SSL Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 10:29 am
Interesting how it’s always in Caps.

“Friend of Ours”.

And Mike M just emails the CEO and basically tells her to do this, and let me know when you’ve done it.

Like an Admin ))

Comment by Fav Human Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 10:48 am
On an intellectual (not moral) level I can understand all the patronage jockeying around all the 6-figure jobs that get doled out in the city/state/county. From what I’ve seen almost none of those people are capable of making that kind of money in actual businesses so you’re expecting lifetime loyalty and donations, among other things, when you place them in these jobs.
But meter reader gigs at Com Ed? That’s what Madigan was (perhaps) spending time caring about? I find this harder to comprehend.

Comment by Larry Bowa Jr. Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 10:54 am
But meter reader gigs at Com Ed?

That person, their family, and some friends all get reminded to vote, by a motivated person.

Ground game doesn’t create itself. And you know that person can walk a lot

Comment by Fav Human Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 10:57 am
===is that the assistance to the GOP and to the Senate paled in comparison ===

It’s my hope that coming out of this there aren’t any economies of scale.

Selling out your constituents for a set of steak knives doesn’t mean you wouldn’t have taken the Cadillac.

Remove the whole cancer, otherwise the whole operation might as well not have happened.

Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 11:00 am
“What’s abundantly clear is that the assistance to the GOP and to the Senate paled in comparison to what’s in there about the House Speaker.”

At this point, this should not be in the same sentence. The GOP borrowing Madigans line of what’s wrong of sending a resume or recommending a job would be accurate unless future evidence proves otherwise.

Comment by 1st Ward Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 11:21 am
David. It’s illegal if it part of a bribery scheme. If it isn’t it would get a public company CEO fired because those companies are into cutting.
If it’s your own private company …It’s all up to you if you want to hire your friends.

Comment by Not a Billionaire Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 11:24 am
I may be in the minority here, but why is this any different than the legislators lining up admittance to UIUC for their constituents?

Comment by Fox haven Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 11:25 am
The only question of any merit is:”Did Com Ed get a different deal than they otherwise have negotiated”.
Otherwise this is political sausage making.
We’ve just lived through the single most corrupt, self dealing federal administration in the history of the nation. I have no patience for the new found pieties of the Party of Trump/Rauner/Pence.

Comment by West Sider Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 11:41 am
===That person, their family, and some friends all get reminded to vote, by a motivated person===

More likely is that the person is the one doing the reminding.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 11:46 am
A classic from McClain email..

“Attached is a request for a person to work in our legal department this year. He will not learn very much and he will not be able to contribute much, if anything, but that is still the ask”

Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 12:50 pm
“His two boys are nice but *** They are lazy. *** Watch the booze.”

Ouch.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 1:25 pm
“…..the law firm of Victor Reyes, whose business dealings with the utility are at issue in the indictment.” I’m wondering what that will mean going forward. Fed building and a big case with his name. been there before. others go down.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 2:51 pm
As someone who spent time working for city of Chicago, it was nearly impossible to avoid seeing first hand the privilege of theses folks. Midway airport ,any park district in the suburbs. Com ed, auto dealers that sell cars to city& state.

Comment by 14th ward Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 3:21 pm
Why would you refer to someone as “our friend” then name the attachment “Madigan Letter.” These were the best and the brightest though.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Monday, Nov 30, 20 @ 5:52 pm